SESSION Ransomware (.SESSION files) — Removal Guide

The Session virus belongs under the Makop ransomware family. Harmful software of this type encrypts all the data on your computer (images, text files, excel sheets, music, videos, etc) and appends its specific extension to every file, leaving the +README-WARNING+.txt files in every folder which contains the encrypted files.

Session virus: what is known so far?

☝️ A scientifically correct designation for the Session would be “a Makop family ransomware malicious agent”.

The renaming will be executed according to this pattern: [id******].[].session. In the process of encryption, a file named, for example, “report.docx” will be changed to “report.docx.[87C29B86].[].session”.

In each folder that contains the encoded files, a +README-WARNING+.txt file will be created. It is a ransom money memo. Therein you can find information on the ways of paying the ransom and some other remarks. The ransom note most probably contains a description of how to buy the decryption tool from the tamperers. You can get this decoding tool after contacting ICQ contact through the messaging client. That is it.

Session outline:

The +README-WARNING+.txt document coming in package with the Session malware states the following:

Your data is encrypted!

Unfortunately for you, a major IT security weakness left you open to attack, your files have been encrypted
If you want to restore them install ICQ software on your PC here hxxps://icq.com/windows/ or on smartphone from Appstore / Google Play Market search for \"ICQ\"
Write to our ICQ @Ransomware_Decrypt hxxps://icq.im/Ransomware_Decrypt/
Or download the (Session) messenger (hxxps://getsession.org) in messenger: 0569a7c0949434c9c4464cf2423f66d046e3e08654e4164404b1dc23783096d313 You have to add this Id and we will complete our converstion
Tell us your file ID

Attention!

Do not rename encrypted files.
Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software - it may cause permanent data loss.
We are always ready to cooperate and find the best way to solve your problem.
The faster you write - the more favorable conditions will be for you.
Our company values its reputation. We give all guarantees of your files decryption.
IF WE DON\'T SEE MESSAGES FROM YOU IN 72 HOURS - WE WILL SELL YOUR DATABASES AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO YOUR COMPETITORS AND OTHER HACKERS IN THE DARKNET.

In the screenshot below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Session looks like. Each filename has the “.[id******].[].session” extension appended to it.

How did my machine catch Session ransomware?

There are plenty of possible ways of ransomware infiltration.

Nowadays, there are three most popular methods for tamperers to have ransomware settled in your system. These are email spam, Trojan infiltration and peer file transfer.

If you open your mailbox and see emails that look like familiar notifications from utility services providers, delivery agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose addresser is strange to you, beware of opening those letters. They are very likely to have a malware item enclosed in them. So it is even more dangerous to download any attachments that come with letters like these.

As for the peer file transfer protocols like BitTorrent or eMule, the threat is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Internet. You can never know what you download until you get it. So you’d better be using trustworthy resources. Also, it is a good idea to scan the folder containing the downloaded objects with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is done.

How to remove the Session virus?

It is crucial to inform you that besides encrypting your files, the Session virus will most likely deploy the Azorult Spyware on your machine to seize your credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned spyware³ can derive your logins and passwords from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.

Often criminals would unblock some of your files so you know that they really have the decryption tool. As Session virus is a relatively recent ransomware, safety measures designers have not yet found a method to undo its work. However, the decoding tools are constantly upgraded, so the effective countermeasure may soon be available.

Of course, if the evildoers do the job of encrypting someone’s essential files, the hopeless person will probably fulfill their demands. Nevertheless, paying to racketeers does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your files back. It is still risky. After receiving the money, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption key to the injured party. There were reports about criminals simply vanishing after getting the money without even writing back.

The best solution against ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud drive or at least on an external disk. Surely, that might be not enough. The most crucial thing could be that file you were working upon when it all started. But at least it is something. It is also advisable to scan your drives with the anti-malware utility after the OS is rolled back.

There are other ransomware products, besides Session, that work similarly. Examples of those are Udla, Tuid, Kxde, and some others. The two main differences between them and the Session are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is the same: files become blocked, their extensions changed, ransom notes appear in each folder containing encoded files.

Some fortunate victims were able to decrypt the arrested files with the help of the free software provided by anti-ransomware specialists. Sometimes the hackers accidentally send the decoding code to the victims in the ransom readme. Such an extraordinary fail allows the victim to restore the files. But naturally, one should never expect such a chance. Remember, ransomware is a bandits’ technology to lay their hands on the money of their victims.

How сan I avert ransomware attack?

Session ransomware has no endless power, neither does any similar malware.

You can armour your system from ransomware infiltration in three easy steps:

• Never open any emails from unknown mailboxes with unknown addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are waiting for (can you win in a lottery without even taking part in it?). In case the email subject is likely something you are expecting, scrutinize all elements of the questionable email carefully. A hoax email will surely contain a mistake.
• Avoid using cracked or unknown software. Trojans are often distributed as a part of cracked products, possibly as a “patch” which prevents the license check. But dubious programs are difficult to distinguish from trustworthy software, because trojans may also have the functionality you need. You can try to find information about this program on the anti-malware message boards, but the optimal solution is not to use such software.

Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft⁴

Download Removal Tool.

Run the setup file.

Press “Install” button.

Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.

Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.

Click on “Clean Now”.

FAQ

🤔 Can I somehow access “.[id******].[].session” files?

There’s no way to do it, unless the files “.[id******].[].session” files are decrypted.

🤔 The encrypted files are very important to me. How can I decrypt them quickly?

It’s good if you have fаr-sightedly saved copies of these important files elsewhere. Otherwise, you might try to employ System Restore. The only question is whether you have saved any Restore Points that would be helpful now. The rest of the methods require patience.

🤔 What should I do if the Session ransomware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation key.

🤔 What can I do right now?

Some of the blocked data can be found elsewhere.

• If you sent or received your important files via email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
• You may have shared photographs or videos with your friends or family members. Just ask them to send those images back to you.
• If you have initially got any of your files from the Internet, you can try to do it again.
• Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud disks might have all those files too.
• Maybe you still have the needed files on your old computer, a laptop, phone, memory stick, etc.

USEFUL TIP: You can use file recovery programs⁶ to retrieve your lost information since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the video below, you can see how to use PhotoRec for such a recovery, but be advised: you won’t be able to do it before you kill the virus with an antivirus program.

Also, you can contact the following official fraud and scam sites to report this attack:

• In the United States: On Guard Online;
• In Canada: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre;
• In the United Kingdom: Action Fraud;
• In Australia: SCAMwatch;
• In New Zealand: Consumer Affairs Scams;
• In France: Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information;
• In Germany: Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik;
• In Ireland: An Garda Síochána;

To report the attack, you can contact local executive boards. For instance, if you live in USA, you can have a talk with FBI Local field office, IC3 or Secret Service.

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